EU yet to support US resolution

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

But says will push for accountability in a range of countries including Sri Lanka at UNHRC

By Uditha Jayasinghe

The European Union will push for more accountability from Sri Lanka at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council next month, but stopped short of mentioning whether it would support the US-backed resolution to promote human rights, an official said yesterday.

Head of the delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from the European Commission, Ambassador Bernard Savage told the Daily FT that the EU would promote accountability from a range of countries, including Sri Lanka.

Referring to a statement released by the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, he noted that while 27 member states have acknowledged accountability for human rights lapses need to be addressed in Sri Lanka, no specific mention of the US resolution was made.

“I have nothing to add to the statement. The document does not mention any resolution or specifically any actions taken with regard to Sri Lanka,” he pointed out.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted the conclusions on the stand it will take on various issues at the 22nd UN Human Rights Council session, which begins in Geneva next week.

In its conclusions the EU Foreign Affairs Council said that the EU is committed to engage with countries from all regions on initiatives that genuinely contribute to the protection of human rights and strengthen their universal application.

The council stressed on the importance of addressing key human rights concerns and discussing human priorities at the UN in contacts with third countries at all levels, with a view to mobilising cross-regional cooperation for an effective UN human rights system.

The other countries mentioned include Syria, Mali, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan, and South Sudan.

Last month the US announced a second resolution on Sri Lanka at the upcoming UNHRC focusing on human rights and reconciliation issues since the end of a three decade war in 2009.

Britain, Sri Lanka’s second largest export market, has already agreed to support the US.